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Rate the Ad: AMC: Mad Men Yourself

Published on July 29, 2009.

Last time on Rate the Ad, we took a look at a web video for Samsung that featured elephants bungee jumping out a UFO in Picadilly Circus. From the Viral Factory--the same shop created the past Samsung viral that asked YouTube viewers to figure out how a phone disappeared--this video pretends to have staged the whole, extremely improbable and somewhat plasticine event to exhibit just how fast the handset manufacturer's new Jet is--it alone can capture the event. We wanted to know what you thought of the fake stunt concept, as well as the elephants and how this effort compares to its sensation How'd He Do It? predecessor. Well, per usual, Adsters were split. Some loved the idea, others, not so much.

Representing those who'd rather have seen a real stunt, "tmacreative2" says, "This is the worst. It undermines everyone who is clever enough to do an actual hidden camera idea. If you are going to do something fake that you want to be taken as real, at least make it convincing. Not a fan of the fake. Real is so much better."

On the other hand, some people saw this video as a parody of ad stunts. Commenter "efil4zaggin" says, "It's brilliant. It's a big "f**k you" to Improv Everywhere stunt advertising and it makes its point about camera speed without shoving it down your throat. I can see it now: 'Hmm, MC Hammer dance... London Tube stupidity... frozen in Grand Central... nah to hell with it, lets have elephants bungee jumping out of a UFO... let's go BIG." This is tongue-in-cheek humor at its finest."
This week, we turn to a little "-ize me" avatar creator for the much anticipated premier of AMC's Mad Men season three on August 16. On Mad Men Yourself, you can custom create your own cartoon 1960s ad man or mistress from body type to clothing to beverage of choice. Sponsored by Eight O'Clock coffee, the site lets you export your Mad creation as a social media profile picture. This is the first online effort for the premier, which will also include "Which Mad Man Are You?" quiz game and Mad Men e-cards, both launching August 10. Well, what do you think? Is the show-themed avatar creator so 2006? Was this concept more interesting the first time as Simpsonize Me for the Simpsons Movie? Or are avatars a great way to spread the already existing Mad hysteria even further? You can admit it. Have you already changed your profile picture? Share your thoughts below.